Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

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Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

PD - where you get accused of being against your star player if you don't like the idea of him taking 4 more shots per game than Kevin Durant has ever taken in his entire career:

Unless the rest of our team sucks miserably next year, PG drastically increasing his shot attempts isn't going to be a good thing.

I think we are missing his point, he is trying to say I need to be aggressive like T-Mac and Kobe were, I don't think he is going to have a sheet of paper with him at games tracking his shot attempts to hit 25-30 and if he isn't there yet go jack up some more shots.

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Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

PG doesn't need to be taking one third of our team's shots. He does need to be boosting his shooting percentages and his points per shot by being aggressive and getting to the free throw line more. In other words, put more emphasis by scoring more points through improved offensive efficiency as opposed to merely taking more shots. If he is able to improve his efficiency, then heck yes, also take a few more shots as well.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

I think we are missing his point, he is trying to say I need to be aggressive like T-Mac and Kobe were, I don't think he is going to have a sheet of paper with him at games tracking his shot attempts to hit 25-30 and if he isn't there yet go jack up some more shots.

It is a bit scary to hear one of your players say they need to shoot a lot more. I think it's important to remember that Reggie Miller, as good as his pps was, never played a single game in his entire career in which he shot the ball 30 time. Not even in overtime games. Not even once. The best of players are able to be accomplished scorers without monopolizing their team's shot attempts.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

PG doesn't need to be taking one third of our team's shots. He does need to be boosting his shooting percentages and his points per shot by being aggressive and getting to the free throw line more. In other words, put more emphasis by scoring more points through improved offensive efficiency as opposed to merely taking more shots. If he is able to improve his efficiency, then heck yes, also take a few more shots as well.

Game 6 against Miami was a perfect example of what he needs to work on. After his Game 5 second half explosion in which his jumper was on fire, he started Game 6 by jacking up a bunch of jumpers and I think he maybe had one aggressive take to the rack in the first half. He was better in the second half and scored a lot of points, but the game was long out of reach by that point. His offensive game is too jumper heavy and a lot of the jumpers are forced junk early in the shot clock.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

While I understand what you are saying, comparing what Paul does or has to do given the supporting cast on this team (even if they are at their very best) with what LBJ has to do given the supporting cast on HIS team last year, is both inflating the offense of our supporting cast and dissing the value of the Heat's.

I think the make up of our team is going to be a lot more like that of LA (in terms of how the skill levels stack up against each other across the board, not in terms of talent at each position) than like Miami. Therefore, our team scoring leader should be more like Kobe than like LBJ.

I definitely agree that if the shot selection stinks it is very likely a detriment - but I guess I choose not to assume that when he says more shots he means he'll just fling the ball up more often.

The Heat's supporting cast wasn't that great last year when you factor in that Wade missed so many games. Anyway, I was just making sort of an abstract point that PG's shot attempts last year were just 0.6 fewer than the greatest player in the world.

In Lebron's two MVP years in Cleveland (08-09 and 09-10) he attempted 19.9 and 20.1. That was on teams that weren't particularly stacked.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

Game 6 against Miami was a perfect example of what he needs to work on. After his Game 5 second half explosion in which his jumper was on fire, he started Game 6 by jacking up a bunch of jumpers and I think he maybe had one aggressive take to the rack in the first half. He was better in the second half and scored a lot of points, but the game was long out of reach by that point. His offensive game is too jumper heavy and a lot of the jumpers are forced junk early in the shot clock.

This is true and I mostly agree, but does this team really have the offensive spacing for him to constantly drive the lane? I am not so sure with Hibbert, West, and to a lesser extent Stephenson's shooting touch that there was much room in the paint.

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Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

Meh, I'm glad he's willing to take on the responsibility of being the best player. He would get criticized on PD early in career for not having that "killer" instinct. I hope he becomes an assassin, regardless of how many shots he takes.

Plus, I wonder what the question was he was answering?

Plus, If he can get to the line 10 times a game, that would probably make more of a difference than the number of points or shots.

To reiterate, I took this statement as PG taking leadership and responsibility, not trying to gun for stats, at all.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

You all can argue over number of shots all day long for all I care. What I care about is the fact that Paul agree's with me that our end of the season collapse wasn't just some locker room issue. We had a real and tangible collapse of basketball play on the court and I think he is spot on in saying that when teams stepped it up we fell off.

I think there is a lot more to that and that actually kind of plays into what Bird was saying earlier when he said we weren't as good as we played early in the season.

This is why I have the vast concerns about going back into next season with the same old cast even with the subtraction of Stephenson.

This is why I think people were way overblowing his detrimental aspect on the team, I do think he drug others down around him but I DO NOT believe he was either the sole or even largest contributor to last seasons downfall.

I honestly believe our team has been figured out, I think teams have scouted and conversely adapted to our defense and our offense was always a shamble to begin with and whenever we couldn't hit open shots we frankly just lost.

So while I appreciate Paul being willing to take on more of a role, I also know that until we come up with a different defensive scheme and a competent offense that I feel we are not only going to not go back to the E.C. finals we may very well end up 3rd in our own division.

Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

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Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

The biggest thing I see is if he's trying to take more shots...will his defense drop?

I'm not perfect and neither are you.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned,and come short of the glory of God. kjv
Ephisians 4: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. kjv

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

You all can argue over number of shots all day long for all I care. What I care about is the fact that Paul agree's with me that our end of the season collapse wasn't just some locker room issue. We had a real and tangible collapse of basketball play on the court and I think he is spot on in saying that when teams stepped it up we fell off.

I think there is a lot more to that and that actually kind of plays into what Bird was saying earlier when he said we weren't as good as we played early in the season.

This is why I have the vast concerns about going back into next season with the same old cast even with the subtraction of Stephenson.

This is why I think people were way overblowing his detrimental aspect on the team, I do think he drug others down around him but I DO NOT believe he was either the sole or even largest contributor to last seasons downfall.

I honestly believe our team has been figured out, I think teams have scouted and conversely adapted to our defense and our offense was always a shamble to begin with and whenever we couldn't hit open shots we frankly just lost.

So while I appreciate Paul being willing to take on more of a role, I also know that until we come up with a different defensive scheme and a competent offense that I feel we are not only going to not go back to the E.C. finals we may very well end up 3rd in our own division.

I usually try not to quote so much, but I agree with Peck. If we are to move onwards and upward from here than I think there needs to not only be improvement from players but also a change in coaching philosophy. But I did like what Paul said in regards to the season collapse.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

You all can argue over number of shots all day long for all I care. What I care about is the fact that Paul agree's with me that our end of the season collapse wasn't just some locker room issue. We had a real and tangible collapse of basketball play on the court and I think he is spot on in saying that when teams stepped it up we fell off.

I think there is a lot more to that and that actually kind of plays into what Bird was saying earlier when he said we weren't as good as we played early in the season.

This is why I have the vast concerns about going back into next season with the same old cast even with the subtraction of Stephenson.

This is why I think people were way overblowing his detrimental aspect on the team, I do think he drug others down around him but I DO NOT believe he was either the sole or even largest contributor to last seasons downfall.

I honestly believe our team has been figured out, I think teams have scouted and conversely adapted to our defense and our offense was always a shamble to begin with and whenever we couldn't hit open shots we frankly just lost.

So while I appreciate Paul being willing to take on more of a role, I also know that until we come up with a different defensive scheme and a competent offense that I feel we are not only going to not go back to the E.C. finals we may very well end up 3rd in our own division.

Different defensive scheme? I don't think we can until we have different big men. We can make minor tweeks, but with the same coaching staff, the same players - especially inside, I don't think we can change the scheme. And I wouldn't change the scheme.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

You all can argue over number of shots all day long for all I care. What I care about is the fact that Paul agree's with me that our end of the season collapse wasn't just some locker room issue. We had a real and tangible collapse of basketball play on the court and I think he is spot on in saying that when teams stepped it up we fell off.

I think there is a lot more to that and that actually kind of plays into what Bird was saying earlier when he said we weren't as good as we played early in the season.

This is why I have the vast concerns about going back into next season with the same old cast even with the subtraction of Stephenson.

This is why I think people were way overblowing his detrimental aspect on the team, I do think he drug others down around him but I DO NOT believe he was either the sole or even largest contributor to last seasons downfall.

I honestly believe our team has been figured out, I think teams have scouted and conversely adapted to our defense and our offense was always a shamble to begin with and whenever we couldn't hit open shots we frankly just lost.

So while I appreciate Paul being willing to take on more of a role, I also know that until we come up with a different defensive scheme and a competent offense that I feel we are not only going to not go back to the E.C. finals we may very well end up 3rd in our own division.

Yep, exactly. And without our 2nd best player, what's gonna happen when teams focus on shutting down PG on offense? Who is gonna take the ball and do something with it?

I like PG's attitude here, because realistically our only hope (beyond a major trade) is if he does turn into Kobe/Durant/Lebron/TMac. Then again, each of those guys had an undisputed 2nd fiddle other than TMac, and we saw how far that got him. Addition by addition is how you improve.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

This is true and I mostly agree, but does this team really have the offensive spacing for him to constantly drive the lane? I am not so sure with Hibbert, West, and to a lesser extent Stephenson's shooting touch that there was much room in the paint.

It's not just driving the lane, it's his movement without the ball. PG is lazy in his cuts and especially coming off screens (not that we set enough of them). But you make a good point. Hibbert can't just pitch a tent by the lane, waiting for someone to throw him the ball so he can shoot an off-balance hook with limited success. We need to move him out more, and have Hibbert set more screens.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

why's Roy get treated like a redheaded stepchild for the "selfish dudes" thing but PG, the guy that shot under 40% after the break, gets praised for saying he's gonna start gunning? Thank you for chucking based PG.

Re: Paul George thinks Pacers lost their title hopes after first losing their edge

they didn't "fall apart," they came back to Earth. they were never that good in the first place.

I agree that they were never as good as the early season hype, but they didn't fall apart? They resembled the worst teams in the league many times after the All Star break. The collapse was historic. More than just coming back down to Earth.